1993 West Church Street, Freeport, IL 61032  
Church 815-235-1993 School 815-232-3511 CDC 815-232-3443

Immanuel Lutheran Church is a Christ- centered family, sharing the Good News of the love of God in Jesus Christ through Word and Sacrament

Who is Jesus?
"He shall be called Immanuel" 
which means "God With Us" 
  Matthew 1:23

Worship activities coming up ...

Poinsettia flowers will be ordered from Deininger's Floral Shop this year. Cost is $9 per plant. Envelopes will be available in the narthex. Make checks out to Immanuel Lutheran Church. Orders are due by Sunday, November 23.  Help us make our sanctuary more glorious for the Christmas season. 

Board of Worship will be sponsoring a time of fellowship for friends and and families following the Thanksgiving Eve service.  Please join us in the basement and spend some time catching up with everyone. 

Board of Worship will be looking for someone to organize the acolyte schedule. We thank Andrea Moring for doing this task the last few years, and encourage another parent of our youth to help out with this scheduling. Questions contact Carol Gray or Andrea Moring.

Our shut ins would like to see you!  The Board of Worship will be organizing a time for sharing the joy of the holiday season with our shut ins.  Please come and help us with some joyous Christmas Caroling. We will gather in the fellowship hall at 4 pm on Sunday December 7th.  Music will be provided. Pastor will have a list of people to go caroling to. We will car pool and use the church bus. Our shut ins look forward to this, and it is a simple way to share the special music of the Christmas Season.  Everyone is welcome to join in.  If we get enough people we can split into two groups and reach out to even more people.  To facilitate this adventure, please sign up on the paper in the fellowship hall or email Pastor that you can join us. We will be out for about 2 hours. Afterward, we can gather in the church basement and order pizza and play games.  Please consider joining in on this simple way of ministering to our shut ins. Don't feel that you have to be a choir member to do this. We want everyone to join in and have some fun.  What an opportunity to reach out to our fellow Christians and share the warmth of the holiday season and spread "Joy to the World". 

Oct 15th Mission meeting …

The meeting on Wednesday, October 15 was concerning two mission trips that will be coming up this summer.  One is to Guatemala and the other is to a State side location.  

The mission trip to Guatemala will be June 6, 2009 through June 14, 2009.  The cost is $1,500 for travel and expenses.  This does not include any extra shopping money which you might want to bring.  
There are quite a few things that need to be done before this date as you can probably imagine.  The first of which is a collection of $50 dollars for a non-refundable deposit.  We are able to take up to 15 people.  So, please get your name in as soon as possible.
If you are interested, please go to www.theservantsheart.org and research the mission.  Also, be sure to download from this website the mission packet which contains all the necessary information about what you will need for the mission.  This is the link for the pdf. packet http://www.theservantsheart.org/teams/Servants_Heart_Mission_Team_Resources/Mission_Team_Manual_2009.pdf
Please respond soon, as I need to schedule a meeting time with the director of the mission who would like to be here for the first meeting. 

There is a mission trip opportunity in the United States...it is down in the good ole South...the land of sweet tea, collard greens, fried okra, and for all of you who do not know...the home of biscuits and gravy.  Oh...and Cajun cuisine.
That's right down in Louisiana.  Camp Restore is a disaster relief camp in the Southern District (my home district) of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.  You can visit their website to see if you are interested at http://camprestore.org/ 
There are no dates set up for this trip yet...but it will be next summer.  Please consider being apart of this trip. 

If you are interested in one of these trips and were unable to attend, please email Pastor Schultz at rschultz@immanuellutheranfreeport.com or call and he will give you more information.

July 27th Vicar Roast …

July 20th Worship …

          Klein recently accepted a call to serve as Associate Pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Brighton, Colorado (a suburb of Denver).  Klein would be installed there on Sunday, August 10. 

June 26th Outdoor Worship …

June 1st Dedication …

May 4th Confirmation …  

DAY OF PRAYER
Thursday, May 1, 2008 is the National Day of Prayer and our congregation is again observing this special time with our own “Day of Prayer” from 7:00 a.m. until 6:30 p.m.  Please consider signing up on the sheet in the narthex for a ½ hour slot of prayer at church or at home.   Watch the E-Prayer Chain for details about this Day of Prayer.  This year’s theme is “Prayer!  America’s Strength and Shield.”  “If my people who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive them and will heal their land.”  II Chronicles 7:14.

            We have set today aside as a Day of Prayer at Immanuel.  It is a national day of prayer.  Every day is a day of and for prayer here and throughout God’s kingdom.  Each week we circulate a prayer list of things that come to the church during that week.  Each fall and spring we dedicate an entire day encouraging all to set aside a designated time just for prayer.  We do our best to circulate a very comprehensive prayer list which many keep for their regular prayers.

            Jesus instructs us to go into our private rooms to pray.  We also read his final prayer (in Gethsemane) for all in John 17.  The early Christians gathered together in prayer and study of the Word as we follow the accounts in Acts.  We bring our prayers together in services and in our individual rooms alike.  God answers even before we call upon him, yet listens just the same.  As God is holy and just, his answers go far beyond what our limited and sinful hearts and minds can offer up to him.  That is a great comfort when we wonder if we have offered worthy things or not. 

            He invites all to call upon him in every trouble and we glorify him by doing so.  Whatever we ask in Jesus’ name, he gives to us.  He gives us the comfort that Jesus intercedes every moment of every day straightening out our sinful conditions and putting his holiness on us and that includes the petitions we offer.  In other words, Jesus makes sure our prayers are not messed up but according to God’s will just the same.  Like Alka-Selzer, what a relief that is.  God’s graces are so great and complete.

            Attached is the list of prayers for today.  Add to them what is in your heart and mind, troubling and rejoicing.  There are no magic words to say except to our Heavenly Father in Jesus’ name and, “Amen,” which means, “so be it” as we trust God and his goodness to all. 

In your prayer you may think of 6 R’s:

            R-1      Recite aloud a Bible passage or part of the catechism to refresh your memory and focus your thoughts.

            R-2      Read a devotion to enrich your understanding of the Lord’s teaching

            R-3      Reflect on how this teaching applies to your faith and life.

            R-4      Repent by pouring out your heart to the Lord, asking Him to forgive your failures of faith and life.  Confess your thoughts honestly to the Lord.

            R-5      Rejoice in God’s mercy and forgiveness through His Son.  Although we are unworthy of his blessings, he declares us worthy through Jesus at the cross.

            R-6      Request God’s blessings for yourself as well as your family, friends, neighbors.  Pray confidently as Isaiah has promised, “The Lord will answer.”  (Isaiah 58:9) 

Today’s Prayer:  “Lord, I do believe.  Help me overcome my unbelief.”  [Mark 9:24] 

Sunday Worship 8:00am & 10:30am 
with Sunday School 9:10am
Wednesday School Chapel 8:50am  
Thursday Evening Worship 6:30pm